Why the 2025 NFL Draft Is Fantastic for Fantasy Managers

The 2025 NFL Draft is 67 days away, occurring in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Why the 2025 NFL Draft Is Fantastic for Fantasy Managers

The Tennessee Titans will pick first, followed by the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.

Soon after the event, probably a few days later, fantasy football managers will select rookies in Dynasty leagues. And this draft is pretty sweet for that. Here’s why.

Running Backs Galore

This draft is not like most per running back talent. Usually in April, a handful of promising tailbacks are on the docket to hit the big leagues. Think last year: Jonathon Brooks and Trey Benson. This go-round, about 10 could reasonably win RB1 titles in 2025.

While “zero running back” strategies have permeated fantasy football in the last few years, teams that win the chip in Dynasty leagues typically have snazzy RB depth, despite the here-and-there examples of “zero running back” working out.

If your favorite Dynasty squad lacks halfback juice, this is the draft for you, and there may not be one like it for quite some time.

These are some of the names:

• Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)
• Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
• Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)
• Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)
• TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
• Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)
• Devin Neal (Kansas)
• Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)
• Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)

About 20 more could be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft in addition to this list.

Two Big-Name QBs for SuperFlex

The 2025 NFL Draft is not like last year’s when six quarterbacks flew off the board in Round 1: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix. It just isn’t.

However, it isn’t dreadful like the 2022 edition, for instance, when the Pittsburgh Steelers force-drafted Kenny Pickett. In all likelihood, Cam Ward (Miami) and Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) will go off the board in the Top 3 or Top 5, on deck to earn QB1 jobs sooner rather than later.

For SuperFlex leagues, managers will have to debate “Cam Ward or Tetiroa McMillan” as early as pick No. 2 after Jeanty leaves the board for the first overall pick.

The top two quarterbacks, Ward and Sanders, make the aforementioned rookie running back selections more complicated — and intriguing.

The Travis Hunter Angle for IDP Leagues

But wait. There’s more.

In a week and a half, Heisman Trohpy Winner Travis Hunter will attend the NFL Combine as a cornerback while fully showcasing the toolkit to play wide receiver in the NFL.

If your Dynasty league features individual defensive players, well, Hunter nukes everything. One might draft Hunter in the Top 5 of supplemental rookie drafts, start him as an IDP, and accrue WR PPR points when his new team uses him on offense. The possibilities are limitless once onlookers learn Hunter’s role with his new team.

All the Rest

Finally, the boring stuff by comparison.

These WRs will be drafted in the first 36 picks of most rookie Dynasty drafts:

• Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)
• Emeke Egbuka (Ohio State)
• Luther Borden III (Missouri)
• Elic Ayomanor (Stanford)
• Matthew Golden (Texas)
• Tre Harris (Ole Miss)
• Isaiah Bond (Texas)
• Jalen Royals (Utah State)
• Xavier Restrepo (Miami)

Plus, the tight ends:

• Tyler Warren (Penn State)
• Colston Loveland (Michigan)

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the Minnesota Vikings, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.